Farmers agaitate against land acquisition

Patiala, Aug 18 (UNI) Hundreds of farmers in Rajpura area in this district today stepped up their fortnight-long agitation against the acquisition of their fertile land for a thermal power plant.

The farmers, demanding compensation of Rs 1.5 crore per acre as against Rs 34 lakh per acre paid by the Government, burnt the effigy of local BJP MLA and Chief parliamentary secretary, Raj Khurana at Rajpura charging him of remaining ''indifferent' to their woes.

The farmers belonging to the seven villages including Suralkalah, Suralkhurd, Nalaskhurd, Nalaskalan, Raimajra, Sadhror and Rangian were up in arms against the acquisition of 1078.16 acres of fertile land at ''such meagre rate'' for the proposed super thermal power plant near Nalash village.

The Government proposed to build 1320 MV supercritical thermal power plant on the acquired land.

''When government was giving 1.5 crore for Jheurheri village for the construction of airport near Mohali, why were Rajpura farmers being given ''step-motherly treatment,'' Capt Rachpal Singh, convener of the agitation committee, asked.

However, Mr Khurana said the government could not deal with the matter unless protesting farmers gave their demands in writing.

UNI XC JN VN1839